The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-06
his old father"
"What did you say his name WASP"
asked Horseshoe.

UlS
"What did you say his name WASP"
asked Horseshoe.
Joe"
"But his last name"
"Aikens."
The freight and the shadows chased
each other on the wall and left Horse
shoe in one deep shadow, so the old
man could not see him tremble little
only little, but a good deal for a
man like Horseshoe.
81 reckon | knew-er-know your
boy. Did he have a scar over his left
eye?" :,
eyes, where he fell on a swing and
n
Eyes, know him. Wait a minute
till fix the fire.
And as Horseshoe laid more boughs
On the fire in front of the cabin. alone
under the pines, he noticed that his
hand trembled and he seemed strange
ly weak-for him. For he knew now
that it was the old mans boy whom he
had killed two days before.
When he returned to the cabin he
felt stronger.
"How's he doing; how's he getting
alongP" eagerly questioned the old
man.
"He got along-or l mean he's get
ting along-first-rate. He has, con-
tinued the artless Mr.. Jones, his old
candor coming back, frequently
bought things at my large supply
store. Your boy is all right" Then
he sat there in the deep shadow and
talked with the old man about his boy
a long time-the frank and ingenious
Mr.. Jones. But after he threw him.
self down outside by the fire and looked
up at the stars shining down through
the clear mountain air he slept and
dreamed that Joe came and stood and
looked at him-at Horseshoe Bragg.
But it was only the colt gazing at him
sleepily when he awoke.
He STAYED with the old man a week
and nursed him carefully. He fixed
ND the tumble-down cabin and wrapped
the old man in the blankets He shot
game with the rusty gun and cooked it
with all the skill he had. The old man
might have had a better nurse, but
hardly a more faithful. But he grew
, worse, he had a high fever, the hard
ships and exposures of the trip had
been too much for his strength. After
awhile Horseshoe sat with him all
night and caught little maps himself
when his patient slept
One night he noticed the old man
was weaker than usual and appeared
, to be sinking. 1t was clear and cold
outside, and as he went to pile OF
boughs little distance from the cabin
he noticed they were white with frost.
There was a faint touch of light in the
east as he replenished the fire the last
time. When he went back he found
; the old man half raised up on the floor
gazing at the shadows which came and
ever fitted away again on the wall.
80, you are here, are you," he said.
as he sank back; sis the colt all rights
And how is Joe-is he doing well?
knew / would find him-he is such s
little fellow he couldn't 60 far-just
down beyond the barn and along the
creek looking for buttercups in the
meadow. Joe is fond of flowers and
he was looking for them, but found
him." He paused and watched the
shadows. Then he said: ''See the ligh
on the wall! That's the way it alway'
shines out of the old fireplace. There
is big fire tonight because they ar,
getting supper" The old man wa
wandering back to the scenes of hi
childhood. The morning wind which
had just sprung up moaned through
the pines without. Hear the fire roa
up the chimney" continued the OLE
man, "and see the light on the wall.
was lost, but they came and found me
and brought me back just in time TO
supper. / knew my mother woult
como after me and bring me back ant
in by the big, old Fireplace. Now the.
are all here, mother and father ant
little sister Mary-they're all glad 10
has got back-rm Joe; I've been los
and have come back to get warm b.
the fire. But it isn't warm here-carr.
me nearer the fire. am cold-I mus
have been lost q long time. very loni
time-I am so cold. Hear the fire
and the tea-kettle, too, but l am YER
cold" He closed his eyes and all wa
still. Horseshoe crossed the old man
hands on his breast and murmured
HE is dead-he will never know abou
joe" He started to rise, when the oil
man opened his eyes again and Their
was different look in them. Then h
said said feebly. and it took all tn
strength he had:
"You have been very good to me
very good; Joe will repay you for